Are you trying to find a fantastic copper cuff that will add a dash of fabulous style to almost any wardrobe? This hand crafted copper cuff bracelet fits the bill!

The deep hand chased pattern on both the inside and outside surfaces adds dimensional allure. “Chased” means to be texturized and is a popular technique with the malleable copper material.

Traditionally, the 7th anniversary is the year of copper! And if you really want to create the perfect gift, you can also purchase some matching copper earrings.

Opening of Copper Bark Cuff Bracelet

Copper is one of the leading trends in contemporary handcrafted jewelry today. Even top celebrities are jumping on the copper bandwagon, showing off their spicy bling on the red carpets.

Copper is known for managing to stand the test of time. When it is all new the sparkling metal shines has a rose-gold hue. If not varnished with a special protectant, in time the material tarnishes but the tarnish turns into a bronzy-brown tone that appears great if you’re opting for an antique look. This chased copper bracelet, nevertheless, is glazed with a protective coating that will keep its primary color intact.

Have you been presently shopping for an awesome piece of hand made jewelry in Dallas? There’re a couple issues you need to consider prior to you start shopping for that amazing present. You have to first of all contemplate the recipients taste prior to you start making any purchases. Amongst the very best ways to make certain that your present of handmade designer jewelry is likely to be well accepted is to very first check to see if it fits among the receivers individual tastes.

Citrine Sterling Silver Cocktail Ring

There’s absolutely nothing more uncomfortable than offering a gift of hand made yellow gold precious jewelry to somebody that typically makes use of just white gold, silver or platinum jewelry. An example would be if the recipient has a big amount of silver earrings, you could wish to attempt acquiring them a silver locket or silver cocktail ring to add a touch of flavor to their precious jewelry collection. You can really discover some remarkably made handcrafted silver and colored gemstone rings by Dallas precious jewelry designers.

Similar to developments in civilization, valuable jewelry design and designs have progressed in step with new products and making strategies. Styles and designs have actually transformed and upgraded, and then commonly go back to their a lot of standard types and aspects. Even prior to the age of reason, males and females both decorated themselves with handmade precious jewelry. Some of the earliest type of precious jewelry used to enhance our bodies were made from flowers, shells, stones and yards.

Color Blocking with Jewelry is Back for 2014!

Color coordinating can be intimidating at times, but adding pops of colors to your outfits is quite simple if you follow a few basic rules. For starters, color blocking simply means pairing contrasting colors against each other in one outfit. If you are afraid of color, you can actually color block with accessories – purses, shoes, belts, or jewelry. Just keep in mind that you want to keep one article of clothing in a color while keeping other articles in a neutral color or black, then accessorize with Complimentary, Triadic, or Analogous colors.

Violet Anodized Medium Lily Pad Earrings

One of the easiest accessories to color block with is designer jewelry. The sixties color blocking fashion trend is back in full force, especially in jewelry. All it takes is just a few key pieces that approach the use of bold color in a fresh way….click the below link to find out more about this trend: This Seasons Hottest Fashion Trend – Color Blocking Recommended ReadingDiscount Designer JewelryHandmade Jewelry Blog

The Wonderful World of Handmade Atlanta Jewelry

Pink Coral Cinnabar Necklace

Searching for a distinct present for that somebody distinct, or possibly even yourself? Have you considered handmade valuable jewelry? There are great deals of well-designed products of precious jewelry by hand crafted craftsmen of Atlanta. There are a a variety of aspects you have to take into consideration prior to you begin buying that unique present. Keeping in mind a lady or person’s taste in hand crafted valuable jewelry and precisely what gadgets they currently have is an excellent beginning.

Chased T Fold Formed Copper Cuff

An additional point you may wish to check out is whether or not the recipient wears even more silver or gold? Get hints as to individual taste from an existing jewelry collection. This will see to it that your present will be well accepted, due to the fact that it will fit wonderfully within their existing valuable jewelry collection. You might similarly wish to keep in mind exactly what they have most of and incorporate it with a contrasting category of valuable jewelry. If they have actually great deals of band and mixed drink rings, you might wish to buy them a set of earrings or perhaps a bracelet or pendant, simply to be various. With the ages, jewelry design has really advanced constant with innovations in items and techniques of producing unique jewelry.

Hammered Copper Disc Drop Earrings

Putting on fabulous precious jewelry belongs to our DNA, so why do not you indulge a bit with these spectacular Hammered Copper Disc Earrings? As one of the most well liked designs of earrings, the dangle earring has actually turned into one of this year’s coolest jewelry trends. With such a large assortment of textures, sizes, designs, and shades, dangle earrings are fantastic means to include pizzazz for any ensemble.

Made from 22 gauge copper sheet, they are not just sturdy enough for a lifetime of wear, but likewise light on the ears. They feature Sterling Silver French earwires, so that even those with allergies to copper can wear them. The discs procedure 1 inch in dimension with an overall earring length of 2 1/2 inches. The copper is covered with a special protectant that resists stain, making sure a lifetime of carefree maintenance.

These stunning handmade Hammered Copper Disc Earrings are a wonderful extravagance to put on casually or dressed up. These stunning copper earrings flash warmly with their highly polished finish and lovely hand-hammered structure. Suspended from Sterling Silver chain, these gold and lovely earrings will definitely turn heads, but basic enough to be incredibly flexible with almost any of your looks.

These copper earrings are made to order, so expect them to be handmade and shipped within 2 business days. They will come nicely packaged in a sophisticated black present box, prepared for providing. Are you looking for copper precious jewelry gift idea to mark your 7th wedding event anniversary with the unique woman in your life? These earrings make an excellent 7th Wedding Anniversary present.

Cool and Trendy San Francisco Designer Copper Jewelry

Copper Earthworm Cuff by San Francisco jewelry designer John Brana

Copper metal jewelry, with its significant history in contemporary jewelry making, continues to be to be a fashionable alternative among fashionistas. Its warm tone and broad assortment of designs makes it a wonderful alternative metal. Hammered, magnatized, and patinated jewelry pieces have ended up being quite stylish over the past few years in the fashion world. Ingenious jewelry designers are producing wonderfully created earrings, rings, lockets, and bracelets utilizing copper.

San Francsico Made Fold Formed Copper Leaf Earrings by John S Brana

Copper jewelry bracelets, copper pendants, definitely everything made in silver is now being made with copper now days. Among the reasons behind this trend is the stagnant economy. Because of the economy we can’t manage the price of gold precious jewelry. The price of gold and silver have soared to heights unreachable my many. Copper jewelry still tends to be more budget-friendly compared with gold, silver, and platinum precious jewelry.

Numerous San Francisco precious jewelry designers have actually just recently begun using Copper in many of their designs due to the high increase in gold and silver costs. Many jewelry artists and designers have uncovered Copper as amazing option. Copper jewelry making can be really versatile, not just since of the expense, however also due to the fact that Copper is one of the most pliable metals to work with. Copper is also extremely flexible and thus simple to cut, type and fold. According to researchers and archeologists, copper can date its discovery to around 10,000 B.C.

A sketch from the upcoming Target Altuzarra collaboration Well hello, high low! Target has just announced its next designer collaboration, with rising New York label Altuzarra. The latest in a long line of partnerships with American designers also marks one of its most ambitious, considering how luxe Altuzarra is shaping up to be. (Gilded cocktail dresses, anyone?) Sexy, strong and considerably pricey, Altuzarra is the label for modern day power dressers.

And now for those in the making, too. “As a designer, I believe firmly in the transformative power of fashion. It has the ability to not only change how you look, but also how you feel,” said designer Joseph Altuzarra via Target press release. “I’ve admired the elegance that Target brings to fast fashion. By working together on this capsule collection, we hope to instill a sense of power, confidence and beauty in women everywhere.”

The 30-piece collection will include womenswear, shoes and accessories, ranging from $18 to $80. Target’s Altuzarra range will launch just in time for New York Fashion Week on September 14, 2014 in Target stores across the US and Canada as well as exclusively online at Net-a-Porter.com. Talk about luxury.

San Francisco, CA— Jewelry designer John S. Brana has announced that his eponymous collection of handmade fine jewelry has been selected as a runner-up winner for the 2014 Best of the Bay Area A-List. This marks his fifth honor in the Best Fine Jewelry category.

The Bay Area A-List is a website that awards Bay Area businesses honors in 168 categories. Winners are determined based on the tabulation of more than 37,000 votes from local residents and industry experts. Winners are given a web page to promote their products and services, and new results are published annually.

In the 2014 Best of the Bay Area A-List Awards, Brana’s designer jewelry collection received Runner-up Award – Best Fine Jewelry, ranking in second place out of 45 local San Francisco handmade jewelry collections in the Fine Jewelry category. His handmade fine jewelry line won Runner-Up awards in 2010 and 2013 and was named a Finalist in the Fine Jewelry category in 2012.

The line of designer jewelry made from copper, aluminum, fine silver and gold received the Best Designer Jewelry Award in 2008. On John S Brana’s Handmade Jewelry profile page of the Bay Area A-List Awards, more than 35 voters are quoted, describing the quality craftsmanship and unique designs of the John S. Brana Jewelry Collection.

John S. Brana Handmade Jewelry is a collection of fine jewelry produced in San Francisco. The pieces in the collection are handcrafted from a variety of precious metals, including fine silver, sterling silver, copper, gold and aluminum. Embellishments like freshwater pearls and faceted gemstones are used in many pieces and are all hand-selected to ensure that every piece is of high quality. Designs are inspired by natural elements from the texture of tree bark to the colors of flowers. Pieces are sold online at Johnsbrana.com.

John S. Brana is the artist behind the collection and the owner of the jewelry line. His career began in law and banking, and he formerly served as a Vice-President for Finance for The Charles Schwab Corporation. In 2003, Brana was inspired to leave the corporate world and begin producing his own handmade fine jewelry. The collection debuted in 2004 and is produced at Brana’s San Francisco studio.

Among scores of volumes written and authoritative reports on the history of the use of metal in fashioning jewelry throughout the centuries, the information surprisingly reveals little on the development and use of chain.

Bead stringing, out of which chain certainly evolved, in contrast, was a highly-developed art, for example, among the Egyptians as long ago as 5000 years B.C. It is among the examples of the remarkable gold jewelry work of these people that the use of rope chain is first noted. This first use, as far as we can determine, did not come until centuries later, about 1990 B.C.

Hammered Nu Gold Link Chain Necklace – Detail

In the intervening years, however, the skill in the use of twisted gold wire in making links for use in bracelets, necklaces, belts, and pectorals in Egypt, displays a constant degree of higher skill and craftsmanship. It seems logical that as more elaborate jewelry developed, the first examples of chain (at least in Egypt) evolved. This was found to be in excavations made about 1895 in Egypt, which proved to be the tomb of a princess which historical records indicate lived almost 2000 years before the time of Christ. Numerous examples of finely-detailed gold and gemstone necklaces were found — and these were most noteworthy for the use of a perfect “foxtail” type rope chain. There would appear to be a relation here to the use of solder, as the beautifully symmetrical design is formed with soldered joints. The jewelry referred to is displayed in the Cairo museum. This museum visit is a “must” for anyone visiting Egypt.

Amazonite Sterling Silver Chain Maille Necklace

In the centuries following, numerous examples of chain — from elaborate link-type to elaborate rope-types are displayed in the museums throughout the world. The Louvre in Paris has good examples dating from the 3rd-4th century AD. Many of these are in Roman style jewelry, interspersed with some examples believed to be from eastern nations.

In the intervening centuries the use of chain has become so universal in jewelry-making that, for the most part, few of us give little attention to the endless variety and sizes of chains available. Obviously, the machine age, in which manufactured chain, from the most inexpensive to the finest quality in silver and gold, literally spout from automatic machines, is the reason we take it all for granted.

Chased Gold Chandelier Chain Link Earrings

But chain making, as it was done thousands of years ago, link by link, by the patient and keen-sighted artists is not a lost art. In fact, there may have been more original designs and patterns created in the past generation than at any comparable time in history. Many more are doing it for the challenge it offers as an art form. It requires both determination and patience. Reward? The knowledge that your handmade chain has no exact duplicate.

Even more so, if it is an original pattern, or one that cannot be machine made it has more value — and there are some patterns so complex that machines cannot duplicate them. At many of the gem and jewelry shows sponsored by local clubs, you will find chain-making a part of the “how-to-do-it” demonstrations. There is no age barrier or requirements in making chain. Children easily learn the simple patterns, and with nimble hands, and sharp eyes, make excellent progress. On the opposite extreme (and not excluding anyone between) the older people find it a fascinating challenge requiring few materials and tools. It is a hobby that must be near the ultimate in a way to make surplus time pass so quickly it literally goes unnoticed.

Chased Stainless Steel Chain Link Necklace

Because chain-making is a subject about which little has been written, we can find little more than a few paragraphs, or at most, brief chapters in books relating to the subject. The reason for the lack of information would become obvious if you were to go beyond making some very simple chain and attempt to write instructions on how to do rope chains.

Chain making just seems to be a craft where written (or event illustrated) instructions do not completely fill the need. Person-to-person direction is by far the best way to teach and learn.

To find out more about making chains, the obvious source is to talk to one who has had countless hours of experience in making chain, and as a demonstrator at gem shows has had background of teaching what he knows to others.

“Should I buy opals as an investment?” “Are opal a wise investment?” The answer to this is really yes — and no — depending on your approach to purchasing.

In these days of such a volatile world economy, we all share uneasiness as to just what might prove to be a “hedge” to our security. It is difficult to receive a meaningful and definitive counsel on any investment. Investments whether for stocks, bonds, real estate, business ventures, gemstones in general — or opals specifically, all have many factors in common, i.e.: “Is the particular choice of good value relative to other choices?” “Are you buying while the market is low?” “Have you searched for and found a competitive, informed, and reliable broker (or dealer in the case of opals)?” “Is your dealer trained and experienced to enable him to competently advise you according to your particular needs?”

When considering opals as an investment, it is wise to approach the idea as you would any other investment — thinking the whole investment concept through. “What do you hope to achieve?” “When and how do you want to convert your investment?” “If you intend to sell, do you have a plan for selling them?” “Will you change them from rough to cut stones or from cut stones to finished jewelry?” Such conversions add value by your applied skills and if you do have these skills and the shop equipment to increase this value to your purchases, do not neglect to add this “asset” in your evaluation of your proposed investment plan.

Perhaps, as is more usually the case, you will not be planning to sell your opal investments, but rather have the pleasure of them as gems and leave them as a part of a family jewelry estate for the continuing enjoyment of your family and heirs.
You may wish to do as many other of today’s craftsmen are doing — convert the rough opals to gemstones, or the gemstones to custom crafted jewelry and sell it. If this is your plan, you will no doubt soon have a business venture on the way, and opals are a ‘sure fire’ seller! However, we can talk about such business objectives another time. This does not fall under the investment category.

1. Buy the best you can afford! If there is one word of advice about prudent opal buying this is it! Remember, opals have value because of their beauty and rarity. These two factors usually combine — the most beautifully is usually most rare — and the price therefore climbs proportionately. But the fine opals, the beautiful, the exceptional gem will always be sought after and retain its value. It is better to have a one carat gem of fine quality than a bagful of low quality ‘opal in name only’ stuff. In seeking to buy so that value is stable and increases, this principal should be your guiding light.

2. Specialize You will have a more valuable investment if it is in a single form. It may take you some time to Zero in on your opal — it may turn out to be black opal, jelly, crystal, or boulder. It might be Australian or Mexican, rough or cut stones. You might know more about and have better opportunities to buy opal in finished jewelry — perhaps antique opal jewelry (there are some real prizes there!); maybe only specific items, say, ladies rings or pins or snuff bottles. Whatever your opal interest is, find it as early as possible and become a specialist in that opal!

3. Confer with as many qualified and experienced dealers as you can! Remember, dealers have had to be successful buyers or they wouldn’t still be in business. Profit from their mistakes. They have surely made them and will gladly steer you away from those pitfalls. This, by the way, is a bonus factor which you rarely find in most investments: Your stock broker need never have had a personal investment in stocks, or particularly the one he is advising for you; the real estate broker may, or may not, own real estate such as he suggest you buy.

Yellow Opal Gemstone

4. Study Opals! Expose yourself to opals in every way possible. Join a gem and mineral club. You most certainly will meet others with an avid opal interest, and knowledge to share. Contact the American Opal Society, which is devoted exclusively to opals and they accept associate members from any place in the country. They have an ever increasing bank of information — films, opal bibliography, newsletter, etc. Attend gem shows at every opportunity — opals invariably are in full evidence at the shows! Read about any aspect of opal you can. There have been numerous books devoted to opals, from the mining, the gem aspects, the cutting and the history, and their use in handcrafted jewelry. Any information will increase your opal investing ability. If it does nothing else, it will give you a broader appreciation of the opal.

So the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ of it turns pretty much on your contribution (in addition to your pocketbook) to your opal investing. If you buy without a planned approach to it you will likely not have a wise investment. If you make planned investments out of your personal knowledge you could well be glad you chose opals!

Shopping for a unique gift for that someone special, or maybe yourself? Have you thought-about hand-crafted jewelry? There are tons of well-designed items of jewelry by hand made craftsmen of Atlanta. There are a a handful of issues you need to take into account before you begin shopping for that amazing gift. You should first of all ponder the recipients taste before making any purchases. The best received present will be one that compliments their present collection or taste. Have they got a favored gemstone? What’s their birthstone or zodiac stone? Do they like one metal over another? An example could be if the recipient has a good number of silver earrings, you’ll probably decide to try buying them a silver necklace or silver cocktail ring to add a little spice to their jewelry collection. You will surely find some exquisitely designed handcrafted copper bracelets by Atlanta jewelry designers.

Fold Formed Aluminum Leaf Drop Earrings

Throughout history, jewelry has continued to develop coupled with advances in materials. Styles and designs have transformed and modernized, and then often return to their most basic forms and elements. Even before the age of reason, men and women both adorned themselves with handmade jewelry. Simple necklaces and bracelets constructed from flowers, woven grasses, shells and stones were created to decorate early humans.

Practically all of today’s jewelry is manufactured. Machine fabricated jewelry is much more economical, not only for the consumer, but also for the manufacturer. Casting machines now quickly process into uniform molds such components as metals, plastics, and resins, allowing even complex jewelry designs to be produced with speed and consistency for the majority of Atlanta jewelry manufacturers. Mechanized punch presses and forges are also employed by many Atlanta jewelry manufacturers to simulate a handmade effect. Hand-hammered texturing is one of the more “handmade” looks manufactured by this method, making the production consistent and highly profitable to the manufacturer.

Patterned Copper Cuff Bracelet

In the past decade, however, the modern marketplace has experienced a resurgence of interest in handmade jewelry, and a greater value is again being placed on unique and limited edition jewelry designs, made by hand with ancient crafting processes. Given this renewed interest in handmade, many Atlanta jewelry designers are seeing greater demand for their talents and designs for unique handmade jewelry. Even art galleries and major departments stores feature local and national designer jewelry that is handmade. With the advent and spread of the Internet as a sales tool worldwide, many international jewelry artisans, even located in remote regions, are also enjoying the benefits of direct sales to distant customers.

Choose Quality Over Quantity When Selecting Handmade Jewelry

Make sure you always choose quality vs.. quantity when buying jewelry that is handmade, especially if this purchase is a gift for someone special. Purchasing a smaller, well-made piece is much better than buying a larger, poorer quality item for the same price. Speaking of price, those on a budget simply need to remember that good handmade jewelry is not always expensive. It is the quality and look that truly counts, not the amount paid.

What are the Benefits of Purchasing Handmade Jewelry Rather Than Mass-produced Jewelry?

14k Gold-Filled Wire Wrapped Carnelian Tear Drop Earrings

The most basic definition of handmade jewelry is that it is crafted by hand as opposed to mechanically made by a machine. In its purest form, hand-assembled does not mean handmade. Handmade and hand-assembled are totally unrelated, but commonly misunderstood by both consumer and designer. Just because a piece is hand-assembled does not make it handmade. Handmade jewelers use old metal-smith skills, simple tools, and a broad variety of techniques to create their desired forms and shapes. In handmade jewelry you can often observe each item’s uniqueness, its dissimilarity from similar pieces. Individuality, culture, and meaning are clearly evident in handmade objects. Making marketable and sought after handmade jewelry requires a considerable amount of dedication, skill, and creativity not often found in most mass-produced jewelry. The quality of a piece of fine handmade jewelry will definitely be recognized and appreciated by many over mass-produced jewelry.

16ct Rutilated Gold Quartz Sterling Silver Ring

Even though handmade jewelry might appear to be slightly flawed in the eyes of the casual observer, high quality handmade jewelry should nonetheless last a lifetime. More often than not, manufactured jewelry has a higher probability of breaking than its handmade counterpart. Many department stores sell “handmade jewelry” labels, but this doesn’t necessarily mean high quality. Many of these “handmade” pieces are actually hand-assembled pieces that are composed of mass-produced components (findings) and are quickly assembled by hand. Mass-production facilities typically require artisans to meet efficiency quotas that result in poorly made jewelry, made with cheaper materials — even if it is technically made by hand. Over the long run, you would be much better off in terms of wear ability if you selected non-mass produced jewelry, or jewelry that wasn’t made in huge production runs. High quality Atlanta handmade jewelry often has an artisan’s name and reputation proudly attached to the finished product. Fortunately, quality and uniqueness are typically apparent to the careful observer.

Certainly the most important advantages to owning hand-crafted jewelry is that it gives the wearer the pleasure of wearing something one-of-a-kind which no one else has, that is created by a genuine artisan with love and passion for his or her work. Crafting well made and designed jewelry is an art form. This strength of feeling comes across in the design process, and in the finished jewelry itself. Mass-produced jewelry is just “soulless.” One’s personalized style, taste, individuality, and identity can be conveyed by and can be better reflected by wearing jewelry that is hand-made. Wearing mass-produced jewelry lends oneself to look mass-produced and off the rack. Regardless, mass-produced jewelry usually brings with it no special meaning or history — no story, no life. When you wear beautiful Atlanta handmade jewelry, it is a pleasure to be able to explain to admirers the actual story or history behind what you are wearing, or information about the artist, which is often possible with handmade jewelry bought from individual artisans or their representative galleries. Above all, it is simply a joy to wear jewelry that someone has personally and lovingly created by hand.